How BTS' Jin completed his military service

Jin, the oldest member of the popular Korean idol group BTS, completed his military service on June 12 and made a comeback. Multiple news outlets reported that all the members gathered together to celebrate his discharge!

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, South Korea requires all men between the ages of 18 and 28 to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, a move that, needless to say, is undeniably due to ongoing tensions with North Korea.

But not all men are subject to military service. In fact, there are exceptions for outstanding athletes and artists, who have the privilege of being exempt from military service. So why didn't this exception apply to the members of the globally popular BTS?

If we're talking about BTS, they're famous for their contributions to Korean pop culture and for having multiple Grammy Award nominations for their hits like 'Dynamite' and 'Butter'... And it doesn't stop there!

Despite the group's legacy, Yomiuri Shimbun reports that contributions to South Korea's culture and arts field, including K-POP, are eligible for the privilege of military exemption. In truth, there were numerous appeals for an exemption from military service for BTS members, and a reform of the law was made to allow musicians to postpone their induction. However, a complete exemption was not granted due to concerns raised that it would be unfair to many others.

Image: Big Hit Music

During his time in the military, what exactly did Jin do? According to AFP, Jin was a member of the 5th Army Division in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, near the military demarcation line with North Korea. As it was a unit that played an active role in the Korean War, the regiment was known for its intense training.

Image: US-South Korea joint military exercise near the military demarcation line in March 2023.

As of now, Jin is the first and only member of BTS to have completed his military service. The other members are still serving, and BTS has been on hiatus as a group since 2022. According to AFP, the official reason for the break was for each member to focus on individual pursuits, although the members' current service in the military is undoubtedly a major factor.

Image: Instagram @jin (Jin of BTS)

According to the Asahi Shimbun, BTS is aiming to resume group activities in 2025, when all members are discharged from the military.

According to the New York Times, each member of BTS has continued to work on music while in the military, releasing songs and videos that they had created before their enlistment. Leader, RM, has recently released an album.

Image: Big Hit Music

With its enormous popularity all over the world, BTS is without a doubt one of the most influential groups, in the history of Korean pop music. Let's keep our fingers crossed that all of the members will successfully complete their military service for a group reunion!

Image: Big Hit Music